The international doctrine of human rights is one of the most ambitious parts of the settlement of World War II. Since then, the language of human rights has become the common language of social criticism in global political life. This book is a theoretical examination of the central idea of that language, the idea of a human right. In contrast to more conventional philosophical studies, the author takes a practical approach, looking at the history and political practice of human rights for guidance in understanding the central idea. The author presents a model of human rights as matters of international concern, whose violation by governments can justify international protective and restorative action ranging from intervention to assistance. He proposes a schema for justifying human rights and applies it to several controversial cases-rights against poverty, rights to democracy, and the human rights of women. Throughout, the book attends to some main reasons why people are sceptical about human rights, including the fear that human rights will be used by strong powers to advance their national interests. The book concludes by observing that contemporary human rights practice is vulnerable to several pathologies and argues the need for international collaboration to avoid them.

About the Author
Charles Beitz has written books and articles in global political theory (Political Theory and International Relations, rev. ed. Princeton UP 1999) and democratic theory (Political Equality, Princeton UP 1989) and is co-editor, with Robert Goodin, of Global Basic Rights (OUP 2009). He has been a Guggenheim Fellow and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics at Princeton University.

Reviews
Charles Bietz rejects both traditional approaches [to human rights]. His critiques of both are sophisticated and elaborate, yet the core of his point, in both cases, is simply that neither of these approaches can fully take into consideration, or include, the existing categories and goals witnessed in the global human rights regime. The novelty of Charles Bietz's book is that it provides the reader with a third approach that he calls 'practical'. * Pietro Maffettone, The International Spectator *
an accessible and well-written study... I recommend this book to everyone who is struggling to explain the origisn and soundness of human rights. * Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights *


Awards
Winner of Winner of the Estoril Global Issues Distinguished Book Prize 2011.



Book Information
ISBN 9780199604371
Author Charles R. Beitz
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 380g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 157mm * 14mm